Editorial

Citation

(2005), "Editorial", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. 34 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/prt.2005.12934aaa.001

Editorial

Recent years have seen significant advances in polymer material science and technology. Such advances are keys to the step changes in coatings technology. With this in mind, the editorial team has included a number of papers dealing with novel polymeric materials in this issue.

Over the years, there have been a significant number of attempts in the modification of epoxy adhesives. However, optimisation of relevant formulatory/process parameters has often been a relatively weak aspect. Samanta and his colleagues reported their investigation into the feasibility of improving the impact and adhesive properties of epoxy adhesives via modification with amine terminated poly(ethylene glycol) benzoate polymer. In particular, an optimum formulation was identified.

While the western world consumes an enormous amount of synthetic materials derived from fossil oil, less developed counties have never ceased to amaze the world with ingenious ideas in utilising renewable natural resources. Basta and her colleagues reported their investigation into the lignocellulosic composites. A new approach to the prevention of lignocellulosic composites, made from sugarcane bagasse – urea formaldehyde, from the emission of formaldehyde was developed and evaluated.

Controlled release of biocides is often achieved via a suitable polymer matrix. Azab and El-Dougdoug reported their development of new organotin polymers via exchange reactions, for use as polymer matrix for controlled release of fungicides. It was found that the rate of release of tin compounds could be simply controlled by adjusting the percentage of tin in the organotin polymer.

UV absorbers are widely used in coating applications. Asiri and Ismail reported their study of the synthesis of diethyl naphthopyran dicarboxylate and related compounds as UV absorbers.

An abundant natural fibre in the northern part of China is flax, which has found uses as apparel textile material and as cement re-enforcement material. Flax fibre is one of the more difficult materials for colouration with dyes, which is important when the flax fabric is used as apparel textile material. Sun and his colleagues reported their investigation on the effects of the modification of the flax fibre with copper ammonia, in terms of improved dyeability of the flax fibre. A set of optimum conditions to achieve good dyeability while ensuring minimum reduction in the tensile strength of the fibre was identified.

Readers may be aware that the Department of Colour and Polymer Chemistry at The University of Leeds is a world- leading institute in the field of colour chemistry. Readers may be pleased to learn that a sister Department of Colour and Polymer Chemistry has now been established at the Heilongjiang University in Harbin, China, headed by Professor X. Bai. We trust that there will be many reports on their research and development work in the field of colour and polymer chemistry to come in future.